How to Stop Your Dog from Chewing Everything When You're Gone

Is your dog turning your furniture into a personal chew toy while you're away? If you've ever come home to shredded cushions, gnawed table legs, or destroyed shoes, you’re not alone.

Many dog owners face this frustrating issue. But before you assume your dog is acting out of spite, let’s get one thing clear: It’s not payback. It’s boredom.

Dogs, especially high-energy working breeds, need a job. If you don’t give them one, they’ll create their own—usually in a way you won’t like.

So, how do you stop the destruction? By understanding their needs and providing the right outlets for their energy.

Understanding Why Dogs Chew

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons, but the most common ones include:

• Boredom: When left alone without mental or physical stimulation, dogs look for something to do. Chewing is an easy, self-rewarding activity.

• Anxiety or Stress: Some dogs chew to cope with separation anxiety. Destruction often happens soon after you leave.

• Lack of Exercise: A dog with too much pent-up energy will find a way to release it, and that often means tearing apart your belongings.

• Teething (for Puppies): Young dogs naturally chew to relieve teething pain and explore the world.

If your dog is chewing everything in sight, it’s a sign they aren’t getting enough stimulation. The solution? Drain their energy before you leave.

The 3-Step Plan to Prevent Destructive Chewing

1. Mental Work – Make Them Think

Dogs aren’t just physical creatures—they have active minds that need stimulation. The more they think, the more energy they burn. Before you leave, engage their brain with:

• Obedience Training: Run through basic commands like sit, down, stay, and recall. Keep sessions short but focused.

• Problem-Solving Tasks: Use puzzle toys or hide treats around the house for them to find.

• Marker Training: Reward behaviors with a quick game or praise, reinforcing engagement and focus.

When a dog has to work through a problem or obey a command, they burn mental energy—just like you would after a long meeting or an intense study session.

2. Physical Work – Tug-of-War Over Treats

Once their brain is engaged, it’s time to tire out their body. Many working breeds have a strong drive for physical engagement. Instead of relying solely on treats, use an active game like tug-of-war as a reward.

• Why Tug Works: It builds engagement, satisfies their natural prey drive, and gives them a controlled way to expend energy.

• Short and Effective: A few rounds of intense tug combined with training can drain more energy than a long, slow walk.

• Balance Matters: Combine structured tug games with obedience work to reinforce good behavior.

3. Exhaustion – Brain + Body = KO’d Dog

Once you’ve worked their brain and body, your dog should be tired. A drained dog is a relaxed dog. They’ll be in recovery mode, ready to sleep rather than destroy.

• Compare it to Humans: Imagine leaving a mentally draining meeting and immediately hitting the gym. By the end, all you want is to rest. Dogs experience the same thing when properly exercised.

• Chew-Proofing Tip: Provide appropriate chew toys, so if they do feel the need to chew, they pick the right things.

When you leave after this structured routine, your dog won’t be searching for things to destroy. They’ll be recovering, waiting for you to return.

What Not to Do

Many dog owners try quick fixes that don’t address the root cause. Here’s what doesn’t work:

🚫 Punishing After the Fact: Your dog won’t understand why they’re being scolded hours later. Punishment won’t stop future chewing.

🚫 Relying Solely on Chew Toys: While chew toys are great, they aren’t a solution by themselves. If your dog is still full of energy, a toy won’t stop them from finding other things to chew.

🚫 Crating Without Exercise: A crate can help prevent destruction, but if a dog is crated without being tired first, they’ll just become frustrated and anxious.

Watch This Method in Action!

For a step-by-step demonstration of how to stop your dog from chewing everything while you’re gone, watch my latest YouTube video below.

Final Thoughts

Your dog isn’t trying to make your life difficult. They’re just following their instincts. If they have extra energy and no outlet, they’ll use whatever is available—whether that’s a chew toy or your favorite couch.

By combining mental stimulation, physical work, and exhaustion, you’ll set your dog up for success. Train smarter, not harder. Address the root cause, and you’ll stop destructive chewing before it even starts.

- Marc Windgassen
No Drive… No Joy

#DogTraining #StopChewing #WorkingDogs #BalancedTraining

Your Dog's Health Starts with Proper Nutrition

What you feed your dog today will shape their health for years to come. A poor diet can lead to serious problems, including:

• Weak joints

• Stunted muscle development

• Improper physical growth

• Slower mental development

What’s Wrong with Cheap Kibble?

Many low-quality kibble brands are packed with ingredients that do more harm than good:

• Indigestible fillers that provide no real nutrition

• Unbalanced ingredient ratios that mess with your dog’s system

• Deficiencies in key nutrients like protein and vitamins

• Preservatives and additives that speed up aging

Some of the biggest dog food brands are facing multiple class-action lawsuits because their products have been linked to premature aging, cancer, and even early death.

That’s not my opinion… it’s in the legal records. But I won’t name names because these companies have a habit of going after trainers who speak up.

Why Some Vets Won’t Talk About It

Not all vets are the same. Some genuinely care about your dog’s health. Others push cheap food brands because it brings in extra revenue. If your vet gets defensive when you ask about nutrition, consider that a red flag 🚩.

What Should You Feed Instead?

I’m not here to shame anyone for feeding kibble. Raw feeding isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. But there are high-quality kibble brands out there... ones with real meat, balanced nutrition, and no garbage fillers. If raw isn’t an option, invest in the best kibble you can afford.

And don’t take my word for it. Research the food you’re giving your dog. Check ingredients. Look up lawsuits. See what independent nutritionists recommend.

I’m not a vet, so if you need expert advice, consult a canine nutritionist or a vet with a specialization in animal nutrition.

Your dog relies on you to make the right choices. What you feed them today will impact their health for life.